Wednesday 7 May 2014 17.45 EDT
First published on Wednesday 7 May 2014 17.45 EDT

Shareholder rebellions over directors' pay continued when household goods group Reckitt Benckiser – which makes brands including Calgon, Dettol and Strepsils – and online grocer Ocado both faced revolts at their annual meetings. The votes follow similar rebellions at Pearson, AstraZeneca and Barclays.

Nearly one-third of Reckitt's shareholders opposed its annual pay report, with 20% rejecting the separate pay policy outlining the company's bonus policy for the next three years. The company's pay framework handed its chief executive, Rakesh Kapoor, £6.7m last year, although that was slightly less than the previous year.

Shareholder lobby group PIRC had urged investors to oppose the vote, saying: "Maximum potential payouts under all incentive schemes for the executives are considered excessive … The ratio of CEO pay compared to average employee pay has not been disclosed and is estimated to be 160:1, which is considered excessive." PIRC also objected to insufficient payout criteria and a golden hello scheme to compensate new executives for forfeiting pay deals from previous employers. PIRC described this as "inappropriate practice".

Reckitt has a track record in upsetting its investors over pay, as in 2009, when its previous chief executive, Bart Becht, was handed £92m.

Some 20% of Ocado shareholders voted against the online grocer's pay report. The rebellion centred on its "growth incentive plan", which awards free shares to directors depending on the company's share price. Later this month, chief executive Tim Steiner will be granted 4m shares, currently worth more than £12m. Two other directors will each receive 1m shares.

The proposal had been "red-topped" by the Association of British Insurers, indicating serious concerns over the pay plan. The warning automatically triggers a no vote among some investment groups.

A spokesman said Ocado had consulted its shareholders over the pay scheme and that it had the support of the majority.